For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
“Something was wrong with Mandi,” said Galyna, “when we went downstairs to help her with dinner after our meeting, she was quite upset, almost angry about something. But she said that nothing was wrong, it was just the stress of all that has been going on lately.” “That could be it,” I suppose. Galyna said she did not think it was stress, it was something that just happened, but she did not know what that could be.
“Hmm, could Alonzo have come to the door while we had our meeting?” I asked, “or at least someone may have come. But hopefully she did not say anything.” “That would be bad if she did tell Alonzo something,” said Sky, “if she mentioned what we found today, that could be rough for John and Cindy.” “Yes, that is very true,” I said, “I never should have left her alone. I wonder if John has heard from Victor yet.” I decided to call John and find out.
“No, nothing yet Steve,” he said, “that is not a good sign.” “Just be careful John,” I told him, “Mandi may have warned Alonzo about what we found today, and he might try to see the Major earlier than expected.” “I do not think so,” said John, “the Major likes sticking with his appointments. He does not like sudden changes, it makes him worry that something might be wrong. We should just stay with our original plan. I will try to see the Major, if he says no, we will walk away, quickly. I will probably leave Cindy in the car though, just in case she has to leave in a hurry.”
“No way,” said Cindy, “I am in this with you, and I am staying part of this.” “Good girl,” I said, “but remember, listen to John, more than ever now.” “Yes, I will do that,” she said. “I will clue her in on some other things first,” said John, “since this will be a bit different, and more dangerous without Victor saying it is okay.” “Just do not take chances John,” I reminded him, “it is not worth getting yourselves killed for Alonzo.”
“Right, I agree with that,” he said. “I think I will need a longer massage tonight Sigurbjorn,” I told her, “I am getting a bit tense right now.” “Just relax dad,” she said, almost laughing. “Very funny,” I said. Sky was laughing out loud now. I cannot help it, I am responsible for my team, even though they volunteer, I still feel responsible. Sigh. “AAAAAAAAA!!” I yelled, “Muffin, why did you bite my foot?” Meow,meow.=Now you think about sore foot, not think about worry.
All three cats started to giggle. Sigh. “How did they learn to giggle?” asked Sky. “I do not want to know,” I said, “it just might make sense.” That got everyone laughing again. Sigh. One of these days someone will be on my side. I hope. “Do you still have Mandi’s phones and laptop?” I asked Galyna. “Yes, I do,” she answered. “Good, then she can be left alone tonight,” I said, “I would rather we have a trap set for Alonzo in the hidden rooms below.
If she told Alonzo anything, then there would be nothing else to tell him anyway. But put an alarm on her door, and have the cats check her room again for any hidden doors.” “Right, we will do that now while Mandi is still downstairs with the other girls,” said Galyna. So her, Sky and the cats went to Mandi’s room and checked around but found no hidden doors.
Galyna will put an alarm on her door later once she has gone to bed. We will let her know it is just for her protection. When I told her that later, she was perfectly okay with it. I still do not know what to think about her, who is she working with, us or Alonzo. Or perhaps both. We lay in bed talking for a while. Suddenly Sky crawls over and hugs me. “Yes, yes, yes, yes!!” she kept saying.
I am glad that she was happy, otherwise I would think she was trying to kill me. “Nothing to be said,” I explained, “until after this case is over.” “You sure know how to hurt me!” she said smiling. Meow.=Human people always like to make noise when we try to sleep. Meow,meow.=Yep, and this time nearly get squished too. We both laughed. “Okay, we all sleep now,” I said. Friday morning arrives and we head downstairs for breakfast.
“Where is Mandi?” I ask. “I will go wake her up,” said Angel. She came running back. “Steve, come quick!” she exclaimed. We all ran to Mandi’s room. She was in bed, but, had been stabbed to death. But how? “Where are the cats?” asked Sky. “They should be down below, on watch,” I said. We all went to check, and everything was fine down there. There is obviously another hidden door in Mandi’s room that we missed. However, right now that is not important.
To Be Continued.
Β©2022 Steve McLeod.
That’s not good for advertising! Losing your client??ππ¬
Now what? You can’t very well let John and Cindy go through with the plan! They coukd be killed also!!π²π³
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Um, yeah, that is definitely not a good thing. Well, it is up to John to make the call now on what he wants to do. We have a blackout between us from now on, just in case our calls are intercepted. So I will just have to trust John. I doubt he will put Cindy in jeopardy though. It would be too dangerous to go through with it, but… π€π©πΎπΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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But????π³ But what??
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But knowing John as I do, he will likely go through with this anyway, but by himself. I hope he doesn’t do that though. He needs Cindy with him for support. π¬π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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I sure hope he doesn’t go it alone!! He’s turned out to be a good partner to work with!!
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Yes, that’s true, I would really hate to lose him now! If he goes in by himself without an invite from Victor, he is done! π²π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Maybe not…π€π€ He’s a quick thinker and in his previous life I’m sure he’s had situations like this that he handled..π€
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Yes, he can handle himself quite well and he does know how the criminal mind thinks which would be a big help. Still, this Major guy is something different again, and he likely has men with him too. π€π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Then… you’ll need to trust his judgment!
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Yes, that’s the scary part. I just wish he had been able to get in touch with Victor. Oh well. And we can’t help him either. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Monday should be a most interesting chapter to read!!π
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Maybe it will be something from the obituary column. I have a feeling I won’t like this next one. Sigh. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Oooo…. well that could be Mandi’s obituary..π€
Still… it could someone else like Victor perhaps? Maybe that’s why John hasn’t heard from him?π€π€ hmmm… there’s a lot of ways this story can turn!!
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People like Victor don’t usually end up in obituaries, they just end up down. If something happened to Victor, then the Major would not be here. But yes, this story could turn this way or that way or maybe not turn at all. But one way or another, something will happen, either good or bad, or even both. π²π΅οΈββοΈ
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Ooooo…. now that sounds fun!!π
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It does? Well, I guess in a morbidity sort of way. π€π΅π΅βπ«β οΈπ
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Sounds like that’s where it’s headed!π€
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That is always a possibility, that’s for sure. But for who, that is the question. π€β οΈ
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I only know of one person that can answer that question!ππ
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The Major perhaps?
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Perhaps?? But the story writer would know also!ππ
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Oh, well, that is also possible, but that depends. Sometimes the writer is kind of, shall we say, out of touch? π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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Oh… hmmm…. that adds a layer of intrigueπ€π€
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I’m back, yes, that certainly does that for sure! Now we just have to wait and see what happens! π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Yep! But it’s such a long time to Monday afternoon!!π₯Ί
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But it makes the anticipation mount to anticipate the next move! ππ΅οΈββοΈ
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Indeedlydo π π π
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Mandi is dead ?! π² If the cats could not detect another secret door, what and why could they fail ? Perhaps they were given something in their food…π€πΌπΌπ΅οΈββοΈπ©π©π©π© I expect there is much danger ahead ! π―π€ Poor Mandi π₯ …I am waiting for what happens next ! π―βοΈ
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No, their food was fine, but not all doors are easy to find. The cats miss once in a while. Yes indeed, I agree, danger is coming, but how and for who? Mandi tried playing both sides, a very dangerous thing to do, it never works out well for the person. π€π©πΎπΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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The plot thickens, with Mandi dead. There is no doubt that Alonzo was behind her murder. He does have a team. This case calls for old fashioned detective work and not relying on devices. If someone came through a hidden door to Mandi’s room, that means the electronic devices did not work. Is it really safe, continuing to stay at the castle? Maybe it is time to leave? After all the person who hired you is dead. ???
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Well, now that Mandi is dead, we will have to leave the castle, but I want to give John and Cindy a chance to meet with the Major first. There is still time to salvage at least part of our plan. If John and Cindy cannot get a meeting with the Major, then I will, by shooting my way in if I have to. Although Major will have men with him, they will only be a few, that helps us. But I want the Major and Victor to know about Alonzo, one way or the other. Rossana is ready to move in with the police once our part is done here. But I don’t want Alonzo getting away with all that money, drugs and weapons he has stored away. I would like to get the Major too, but he is not who we are after right now. But he might be useful if we can get to see him. Time will tell. π€π©πΎπΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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So many details need to come together to get Alonzo. He should not get away, especially if police were watching the castle. Major might be good to see but don’t get reckless.
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Right now I’m angry that Alonzo beat us, even though we were watching. How did he know? Was Mandi still able to contact him? She was playing both sides, and lost. But we will get Alonzo, unfortunately not for murder, but for other crimes anyway. That will stop him for a while at least. But the Major can stop him permanently, something we can’t do since he won’t fight us. I will try not to be too reckless. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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π
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